Is it important to show Catholic involvement on Georgetown application?

[Anonymous]

We all know that Georgetown takes a significantly higher percentage of students from Catholic schools.

On the other hand, in their Common Data Set, they say religious affiliation is "not considered."

With that in mind: my son has been a longtime member of the youth group at our Catholic church. He is an involved member (weekly meetings, frequent volunteer projects). The group does not have officers or awards or anything. He has never been an altar server.

Would you use one of the six activity slots to mention this? He has other activities that are far more impressive. (E.g., on the Common App activities list, he's not mentioning this for schools that aren't Catholic.)

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We all know that Georgetown takes a significantly higher percentage of students from Catholic schools.

On the other hand, in their Common Data Set, they say religious affiliation is "not considered."

With that in mind: my son has been a longtime member of the youth group at our Catholic church. He is an involved member (weekly meetings, frequent volunteer projects). The group does not have officers or awards or anything. He has never been an altar server.

Would you use one of the six activity slots to mention this? He has other activities that are far more impressive. (E.g., on the Common App activities list, he's not mentioning this for schools that aren't Catholic.)

Thank you.

No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We all know that Georgetown takes a significantly higher percentage of students from Catholic schools.

On the other hand, in their Common Data Set, they say religious affiliation is "not considered."

With that in mind: my son has been a longtime member of the youth group at our Catholic church. He is an involved member (weekly meetings, frequent volunteer projects). The group does not have officers or awards or anything. He has never been an altar server.

Would you use one of the six activity slots to mention this? He has other activities that are far more impressive. (E.g., on the Common App activities list, he's not mentioning this for schools that aren't Catholic.)

Thank you.

I would. Unless by "fare more impressive" you mean a lot far more. but an activity he's done for 10+ years is impressive.

I think Georgetown takes a lot kids from CERTAIN Catholic high schools. Top Jesuits HSs in NYC yes. Our Lady of Iowa City not so much. I find their entire admissions ops very old fashioned and relationship based on the higher level. Not saying it's harder for your kid, just saying it is easier for connected feeder school kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We all know that Georgetown takes a significantly higher percentage of students from Catholic schools.

On the other hand, in their Common Data Set, they say religious affiliation is "not considered."

With that in mind: my son has been a longtime member of the youth group at our Catholic church. He is an involved member (weekly meetings, frequent volunteer projects). The group does not have officers or awards or anything. He has never been an altar server.

Would you use one of the six activity slots to mention this? He has other activities that are far more impressive. (E.g., on the Common App activities list, he's not mentioning this for schools that aren't Catholic.)

Thank you.

I would. Unless by "fare more impressive" you mean a lot far more. but an activity he's done for 10+ years is impressive.

I think Georgetown takes a lot kids from CERTAIN Catholic high schools. Top Jesuits HSs in NYC yes. Our Lady of Iowa City not so much. I find their entire admissions ops very old fashioned and relationship based on the higher level. Not saying it's harder for your kid, just saying it is easier for connected feeder school kids.

Thanks. I guess I just don't feel like this is an "impressive" activity in that there's no "leadership" by him (the leader of the group is an adult), he didn't do anything extraordinary (racked up a lot of community service hours, sure - but doing things like stuffing backpacks, parish beautification projects, etc.), ad it doesn't show evidence for his major or any particular skill/talent/interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We all know that Georgetown takes a significantly higher percentage of students from Catholic schools.

On the other hand, in their Common Data Set, they say religious affiliation is "not considered."

With that in mind: my son has been a longtime member of the youth group at our Catholic church. He is an involved member (weekly meetings, frequent volunteer projects). The group does not have officers or awards or anything. He has never been an altar server.

Would you use one of the six activity slots to mention this? He has other activities that are far more impressive. (E.g., on the Common App activities list, he's not mentioning this for schools that aren't Catholic.)

Thank you.

I would. Unless by "fare more impressive" you mean a lot far more. but an activity he's done for 10+ years is impressive.

I think Georgetown takes a lot kids from CERTAIN Catholic high schools. Top Jesuits HSs in NYC yes. Our Lady of Iowa City not so much. I find their entire admissions ops very old fashioned and relationship based on the higher level. Not saying it's harder for your kid, just saying it is easier for connected feeder school kids.

Religious affiliation is not considered.
Alum, former staff, and former prof.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We all know that Georgetown takes a significantly higher percentage of students from Catholic schools.

On the other hand, in their Common Data Set, they say religious affiliation is "not considered."

With that in mind: my son has been a longtime member of the youth group at our Catholic church. He is an involved member (weekly meetings, frequent volunteer projects). The group does not have officers or awards or anything. He has never been an altar server.

Would you use one of the six activity slots to mention this? He has other activities that are far more impressive. (E.g., on the Common App activities list, he's not mentioning this for schools that aren't Catholic.)

Thank you.

I would. Unless by "fare more impressive" you mean a lot far more. but an activity he's done for 10+ years is impressive.

I think Georgetown takes a lot kids from CERTAIN Catholic high schools. Top Jesuits HSs in NYC yes. Our Lady of Iowa City not so much. I find their entire admissions ops very old fashioned and relationship based on the higher level. Not saying it's harder for your kid, just saying it is easier for connected feeder school kids.

Religious affiliation is not considered.
Alum, former staff, and former prof.

Sure, it’s just a super coincidence that a school like Regis has a 60% acceptance rate at Georgetown

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We all know that Georgetown takes a significantly higher percentage of students from Catholic schools.

On the other hand, in their Common Data Set, they say religious affiliation is "not considered."

With that in mind: my son has been a longtime member of the youth group at our Catholic church. He is an involved member (weekly meetings, frequent volunteer projects). The group does not have officers or awards or anything. He has never been an altar server.

Would you use one of the six activity slots to mention this? He has other activities that are far more impressive. (E.g., on the Common App activities list, he's not mentioning this for schools that aren't Catholic.)

Thank you.

No.

What do you mean “no”? Of course I would. His involvement in his church appears to be a major part of his life, so he absolutely should mention it. When they say that religious affiliation is “not considered“ they mean they don’t care if you’re Catholic. They’re not saying they’ll hold being a good Catholic against you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We all know that Georgetown takes a significantly higher percentage of students from Catholic schools.

On the other hand, in their Common Data Set, they say religious affiliation is "not considered."

With that in mind: my son has been a longtime member of the youth group at our Catholic church. He is an involved member (weekly meetings, frequent volunteer projects). The group does not have officers or awards or anything. He has never been an altar server.

Would you use one of the six activity slots to mention this? He has other activities that are far more impressive. (E.g., on the Common App activities list, he's not mentioning this for schools that aren't Catholic.)

Thank you.

I would. Unless by "fare more impressive" you mean a lot far more. but an activity he's done for 10+ years is impressive.

I think Georgetown takes a lot kids from CERTAIN Catholic high schools. Top Jesuits HSs in NYC yes. Our Lady of Iowa City not so much. I find their entire admissions ops very old fashioned and relationship based on the higher level. Not saying it's harder for your kid, just saying it is easier for connected feeder school kids.

Religious affiliation is not considered.
Alum, former staff, and former prof.

Sure, it’s just a super coincidence that a school like Regis has a 60% acceptance rate at Georgetown

Regis is an extraordinary example - I bet they have a 60% acceptance rate at most T20ish (not sure where Georgetown ranks now) schools.

The relevant question (which I cursorily Googled but couldn't answer) is what percentage of Georgetown students come from Catholic high schools, and how does that compare to the percentage of students overall nationwide who attend Catholic high schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We all know that Georgetown takes a significantly higher percentage of students from Catholic schools.

On the other hand, in their Common Data Set, they say religious affiliation is "not considered."

With that in mind: my son has been a longtime member of the youth group at our Catholic church. He is an involved member (weekly meetings, frequent volunteer projects). The group does not have officers or awards or anything. He has never been an altar server.

Would you use one of the six activity slots to mention this? He has other activities that are far more impressive. (E.g., on the Common App activities list, he's not mentioning this for schools that aren't Catholic.)

Thank you.

I would. Unless by "fare more impressive" you mean a lot far more. but an activity he's done for 10+ years is impressive.

I think Georgetown takes a lot kids from CERTAIN Catholic high schools. Top Jesuits HSs in NYC yes. Our Lady of Iowa City not so much. I find their entire admissions ops very old fashioned and relationship based on the higher level. Not saying it's harder for your kid, just saying it is easier for connected feeder school kids.

Religious affiliation is not considered.
Alum, former staff, and former prof.

Sure, it’s just a super coincidence that a school like Regis has a 60% acceptance rate at Georgetown

Cite?

IME, this is not true.

[Anonymous]

OP, like any activity, only include it if it matters to your student or something he'd like to continue. That said, GU is really big on social justice and community service. If that's his only volunteer activity, include it and put it further down the list. Signed, GU alum interviewer

[Anonymous]

41% of students are Catholic.

https://www.ivyscholars.com/georgetown-university-guide

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We all know that Georgetown takes a significantly higher percentage of students from Catholic schools.

On the other hand, in their Common Data Set, they say religious affiliation is "not considered."

With that in mind: my son has been a longtime member of the youth group at our Catholic church. He is an involved member (weekly meetings, frequent volunteer projects). The group does not have officers or awards or anything. He has never been an altar server.

Would you use one of the six activity slots to mention this? He has other activities that are far more impressive. (E.g., on the Common App activities list, he's not mentioning this for schools that aren't Catholic.)

Thank you.

I would. Unless by "fare more impressive" you mean a lot far more. but an activity he's done for 10+ years is impressive.

I think Georgetown takes a lot kids from CERTAIN Catholic high schools. Top Jesuits HSs in NYC yes. Our Lady of Iowa City not so much. I find their entire admissions ops very old fashioned and relationship based on the higher level. Not saying it's harder for your kid, just saying it is easier for connected feeder school kids.

Religious affiliation is not considered.
Alum, former staff, and former prof.

Sure, it’s just a super coincidence that a school like Regis has a 60% acceptance rate at Georgetown

It's a great school.

[Anonymous]

No. They want stellar academics and a proven history of giving back to your community. You could say it's the charitable part of the Catholicism that they want you to show.

[Anonymous]

We are not religious at all but I did have some Jesuit education and shared some of that with our child for them to consider in the process. I do not know whether they used it or not but I suspect they may have during the interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

41% of students are Catholic.

https://www.ivyscholars.com/georgetown-university-guide

As of 2009.

Although it is a Jesuit university, only 41% of the student body identify as Roman Catholic, while 22% identify as Protestant as of 2009.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgetown_University#:~:text=Although%20it%20is%20a%20Jesuit,6.5%25%20of%20undergraduates%20are%20Jewish.